Weather Resistant Shingle System

ABSTRACT

A weather resistant shingle system is provided, wherein a starter strip course of shingles is applied to a roof, and with successive courses of field shingles applied thereover, with adjacent underlying and overlying shingles adhesively secured together to provide wind resistance to tabs of next overlying shingles from being upwardly lifted under wind conditions, and to prevent moisture, such as rain, from entering beneath tabs of shingles.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to shingles that are laid up on a roof incourses, such that tabs of field shingles in an overlying course coverbutt portions of field shingles in a next-underlying course, and withsuch courses of shingles progressing up the slope of a roof, commencingwith a first course of shingles which are starter strip shingles, withthe starter strip shingles being covered by tab portions of fieldshingles in a first course of shingles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the shingle art to apply a starter strip course ofshingles along the lower edge of a sloped roof, and then to cover thatcourse with a first course of field shingles, with each field shinglehaving a lower tab portion that will often comprise a plurality of tabs,and with shingles in each course having butt or headlap portions.Successive courses of field shingles are applied, with the shingles ineach course having their tab portions overlying butt portions ofshingles in a next-underlying course.

It is also known to provide a wind-resistant feature comprised ofadhesive between overlapping portions of shingles, to resist the upwardlifting of shingles.

Examples of weather-resistant shingle systems are set forth in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,239,802; 5,950,387 and 6,874,289, the complete disclosures ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a weather resistant shingle systemof field shingles embodying butt portions and tab portions, that arelaid up on a roof, in courses, such that adjacent underlying andoverlying shingles have at least two adhesive connections therebetweenfor adhering overlapped shingles together, to resist tabs of shinglesfrom being lifted upwardly by wind, and to provide separate moisturebarriers to moisture penetration therebetween.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide such shingleswith at least two adhesive connections therebetween for resistingmoisture penetration, and for resisting tabs of shingles from beinglifted upwardly by wind.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above object,with respect to overlying and underlying field shingles.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above objectswith respect to starter shingles and overlying field shingles.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the aboveobjects, using anywhere from three to six adhesive connections betweenunderlying and overlying adjacent shingles, in different courses.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the objectimmediately above, wherein there are adhesive connections of anywherefrom two to six such connections between starter strip shingles andoverlying field shingles of a first course of field shingles.

It is yet another object of this invention to accomplish the aboveobjects, wherein the adhesive connections are either spaced apart atdifferent distances from a bottom edge of overlying field shingles, orthat are spaced apart at different distances between bottom edges offield shingles and underlying starter strip shingles, or whereinadhesive connections are in at least partial contact with each other, infull contact with each other, in nested contact with each other or ininterlocked contact with each other.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyunderstood from a reading of the following brief descriptions of thedrawing figures, the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments,and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a building roof having a pluralityof courses of field shingles applied thereto, with tab portions ofshingles in overlying courses covering butt portions of shingles inunderlying courses.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of shingles in threesuccessive courses, as they would appear when applied to a roof, withunderlying adhesive connections being illustrated in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a right elevational view of a roof deck having a layer ofunderlining thereon, and with the three courses of shingles illustratedin FIG. 2 being shown in exploded view, but in relative positions asthey would appear preparatory to being applied to the roof deck, withthe illustration of FIG. 3 being taken generally along the line III-IIIof FIG. 1, as well as from the right end of FIG. 2, showing the adhesivezones for connection that appear in broken lines in FIG. 2, in solidlines in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a shingle ofFIG. 3, taken generally along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary illustration of a shingle of this invention,wherein an alternate form of adhesive zones is illustrated, withadhesive zones at the lower ends of the tabs of the shingle of FIG. 5being spaced apart, or discontinuous, and with the adhesive zone on thetop surface of the shingle of FIG. 5 being continuous and in the buttportion of the shingle of FIG. 5, above the vertical slot, and withoptional release tape being shown in phantom for each of the adhesivezones.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded view of a roof deck, having a starterstrip shingle illustrated, along with two shingles of a first and asecond course of shingles being fragmentally illustrated, with variouszones of adhesive connection being also illustrated, either in fulllines, or in phantom lines.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a starter strip shingle, with twofield shingles about to be applied thereover, with the shingles of FIG.7 being illustrated in end view, and in exploded form, and whereinadhesives on different surfaces of the shingles of FIG. 7 areillustrated in positions that would enable them to be in full contactwith other adhesive connections, and with respect to the adhesiveconnections of FIG. 7, in interconnected manner.

FIGS. 8 through 13 are illustrations of various upper and lower adhesiveconnections for overlying and underlying shingles in partial or full orinterconnected relation with each other, whereby various differentembodiments of shingle adhesive connections are illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1 in detail, a building 10 is illustrated with aplurality of courses 11-17 of shingles applied to a roof deck 18, withthe shingles 20 in each course being applied with tab portions 21 of theshingles 20 being in overlying relation to butt portions 22 of adjacentnext-underlying shingles, and with the shingles in a given course beinglaterally offset relative to shingles in a next-underlying course, sothat slots 23 separating adjacent tabs in one course are not alignedwith slots 23 of a next-underlying course of shingles.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the roof deck 18has a shingle underlayment 24 applied thereto. At the lower end of theroof deck 18 there is a course of starter strip shingles 25, illustratedin exploded view, preparatory to the starter strip shingles 25 beingapplied to the roof deck 18 upon movement in the direction of the arrow26, and upon nails or other fasteners 27 being applied for fasteningshingles 25 to the roof deck 18.

The shingles 25 each have a band of adhesive 28 thereon, as shown,carried on the upper surface 30 of each shingle 25 that faces a lowersurface 31 of each shingle 32 in a first course of field shingles.

The shingles 32 have bands 33 of adhesive on their lower surfaces 31such that, when each shingle 32 is moved rightwardly in the direction ofthe arrows 34, 35, the adhesive bands 28, 33 will adhesively engagerespective shingle surfaces 31, 30, forming a double adhesive sealagainst shingles 32 in their course from being lifted upwardly by winds,thus providing a wind-resistant barrier to upward lifting, and alsoproviding a double moisture barrier against rain entering between theshingles surfaces 30 and 31 beneath tabs 36.

The bands 28, 33 of adhesive are preferably continuous across their tabs36, as shown in FIG. 2, although the same could be discontinuous, as maybe desired.

The shingles 32 have, on their upper surfaces 37, adhesive bands 38,similar to the adhesive bands 28, and fasteners 40 of the nail or stapletype will also be applied, as shown, to fasten the shingles 32 to theroof deck 18 when the shingles 32 are moved rightwardly, as shown, inthe direction of the arrows 34, 35.

Shingles 41 in a second course of field shingles likewise have bands 42of adhesive on their rear or lower surfaces 43 such that, when theshingles 41 in the second course of field shingles are movedrightwardly, in the direction of the arrows 44, 45, the adhesive bands38, 42 will adhesively engage with respective shingle surfaces 43, 37,and nails or other fasteners 48 will likewise secure the shingles 41 tothe roof deck 18, with tabs 49 of shingles 41 overlying butt portions ofshingles 32 in the next-underlying course.

The shingles 41 have, on their upper surfaces 46, bands 47 of adhesiveto be secured against lower surfaces 50 of shingles 51 in anext-overlying course of field shingles. Shingles 51 have on their rearsurfaces 50, bands 52 of adhesive. The bands 47, 52 of adhesive willrespectively adhesively engage shingle surfaces 50, 46, upon rightwardmovement of shingles 51 in the direction of the arrows 53, 54, likewiseforming a double barrier against upward lifting of shingles 51 underwind forces, and likewise form a double moisture barrier, against rainentering beneath tabs 55 of shingles 51. At the locations of slots 19between adjacent tabs 36, 49, 55 of shingles, moisture from rain, snowor the like passing upwardly in the directions of arrows 29 meets thebarriers formed by adhesive zones beneath next-overlying shingles, abovethe slots 19.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, it will be seen that, withrespect to the pairs of bands of adhesive 28, 33; 38, 42 and 47, 52, inwhich the bands 28, 38 and 47 are disposed higher than the bands 33, 42and 52, it will be apparent that, as an alternative arrangement, thebands 33, 42 and 52 could be at higher locations relative to theshingles 32, 41 and 51, with the bands 28, 38 and 47 being at lowerlocations on their respective shingles 25, 32 and 41, below the verticalplacements of the bands 33, 42 and 52, if desired.

The above shingling process will thus continue, upwardly, to the apex 60of the roof of the building of FIG. 1, with next overlying and nextunderlying shingles having double adhesive connections securing tabportions of next-overlying shingles to butt portions of next underlyingshingles.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that each shingle described aboveis preferably comprised of a web 61 of organic or preferably inorganicmaterial, such as fiberglass, that is impregnated with a bitumenmaterial 62, such as asphalt, to yield an asphalt-impregnated web 63.Upper and lower surfaces 64, 65 of the asphalt impregnated web 63 haverespective adhesive layers 66, 67 applied thereto, which adhesive layers66, 67 can likewise be a bituminous material such as asphalt, and theoutward facing surfaces of the adhesive layers 66, 67 have a respectivegranule layer 68 and smaller particle layer 70 applied thereto. Thesmaller particles can, if desired, be sand, mica or the like. Thegranules 68, applied to the upper or outer surfaces of the shingle 32can be comprised of ground slate, gravel, or any other substance that isdesired, which will protect the underlying bituminous material from heatof the sun, ultraviolet rays, and the like.

With reference to FIG. 5, it will be seen that a shingle 75 isfragmentally illustrated, having an adhesive band 76 in its butt orheadlap shingle portion 77, applied on the upper surface 78 of theshingle 75. At the lower end of the rear surface (unnumbered) of eachtab portion 80 of the shingle 75, there are provided a band ofdiscontinuous zones of adhesive 81, and the bands of adhesive 76, 81can, if desired, have removable release tapes 82, 83, protecting theadhesive bands from becoming adhered to next overlying ornext-underlying shingles in a stack, during storage and/or shipment ofstacks of shingles. Alternatively, the release strips 82, 83, could beapplied to next-adjacent shingles in the stacks, such that when aplurality of shingles are stacked together, adhesive surfaces of oneshingle would engage against release tape surfaces of an adjacentunderlying or overlying shingle in the stack, such that when releasetapes are carried by adjacent underlying or overlying shingles ratherthan being applied directly to the adhesive portions of a given shingle,such release tapes may, if desired, be permanently carried by theunderlying or overlying shingles.

In FIG. 6 there are fragmentally shown a roof deck 85, a starter stripshingle 86, a field shingle 87 in a first course of field shingles, anda field shingle 88 of a second course of field shingles, all in explodedview. The starter strip shingle 86 is provided with an adhesive band 90shown in full lines, on the upper surface 91 of the shingle 86. Theshingle 87 has, on its lower surface 92, bands 93 and 94 of adhesive,spaced apart from each other, such that when the shingle 87 is broughtinto engagement with the starter strip shingle 86, upon movement of theshingles toward the roof deck 85 in the direction of the arrows 95, 96,the adhesive band 90 will engage against the lower surface 92 of theshingle 87, and the adhesive bands 93, 94 carried on the lower surface92 of the shingle 87 will engage against the upper surface 91 of thestarter strip shingle 86, thereby forming three spaced-apart bands ofadhesive for protecting the shingle 86 from being lifted upwardly bywind, and for preventing moisture such as rain, from entering betweenthe shingles 86, 87, from the right end thereof.

Optionally, an additional adhesive band 97 may be carried by the lowersurface 92 of the shingle 87, as is shown in phantom in FIG. 6, suchthat the optional adhesive band 97 could engage with the adhesive band90 carried on surface 91 of the shingle 86.

The shingle 87 has an adhesive band 100 carried on its upper surface101, and the shingle 102 carries bands 103, 104 of adhesive to engageagainst upper surface 101 of the shingle 87 upon movement of the shingle88 in the direction of arrow 105, as the shingle 88 is brought intocontact against the shingle 87, such that the bands 100, 103 and 104will secure the shingles 88 and 87 against each other, as has beendescribed above with respect to the adhesive bands 90, 93 and 94securing the shingles 87 and 86 against each other.

The shingle 88 is also shown to have an optional additional band 107 ofadhesive for engagement against the band 100 when the shingles 88, 87are brought together, in a manner similar to the engagement of the bands97, 90 of adhesive to each other when the shingles 87 and 86 are broughttogether. It will be noted that the band 100 of adhesive for shingle 87is located in the butt portion 108 of shingle 87, which is above theimaginary line 110 separating the butt portion 108 from the tab portion111 of shingle 87.

Optionally, an additional band 112 of adhesive, shown in phantom on theupper surface 101 of the shingle 87, may be provided to form anadditional barrier against moisture entry, and to form an additionalbarrier against wind uplifting of the shingle 88.

The shingle 88 likewise has respective butt and tab portions 113, 114,respectively, separated by an imaginary line 115, and will have on itsupper surface 116, an adhesive band 117, similar to the adhesive band100 for shingle 87. Also, as with the shingle 87, the shingle 88 mayoptionally have an additional band 118 of adhesive (shown in phantom)similar to the band 112 of adhesive for the shingle 87.

In FIG. 7, there are schematically shown a starter strip shingle 120, afield shingle 121 of a first course, and a field shingle 122 of a secondcourse of shingles, shown in exploded view preparatory to those shinglesbeing brought together and applied to a roof deck. The shingles 120-122are provided with bands of adhesive 123, 124, that are constructed to beof shapes that enable them to be nested or interlocked with each other,as shown, when those bands 123, 124 of adhesive are brought into contactwith each other, as the shingles 120, 121 and 122 are brought together.

In FIG. 8 an alternative configuration is provided in the form oftriangular configurations of adhesive bands 125, 126, carried onrespective shingles 127, 128 (fragmentally illustrated), such that theadhesive bands 125, 126 would be brought into full contact with eachother as their sloped surfaces engage with each other.

In FIG. 9, yet another configuration is provided for bands 130, 131 ofadhesive, carried by fragmentally illustrated shingle portions 132, 133,such that the band 131 of adhesive can nest within the recess 134 ofadhesive band 130 when the shingles 132, 133, are brought together, alsoin interlocked, nested relation.

In FIG. 10, yet another configuration is provided for bands 135, 136 ofadhesive respectively carried by shingles 137, 138, also fragmentallyillustrated, whereby an additional interlocked, nesting configuration isprovided whereby downwardly facing legs 140 of adhesive 136 and upwardlyfacing legs 141 of respective adhesive bands 136, 135 can nest withinrespective recesses 142, 143 of bands 135, 136 of adhesive, when theshingles 137, 138 are brought together.

In FIG. 11, yet another interlocked, nesting arrangement is shownwhereby bands 145, 146 of adhesive carried by respective shingles 147,148 can be interlocked, by means of the band 145 being disposed withinrecess 150 of band 146, when the shingles 147, 148 are brought together.

In FIG. 12, bands 151 and 152 of adhesive carried by respective shingles153, 154 are illustrated, in full overlap, with the bands 151, 152 beingillustrated as being triangular in cross-section, in a manner oppositeto the triangular configurations illustrated in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 13, there are illustrated bands 160, 161 of adhesive carried byrespective shingles 162, 163, in a manner similar to those illustratedin FIG. 12, but wherein the bands 160, 161 are offset relative to eachother, as shown, to be in partial contact with each other when theshingles 162, 163 are brought together in adhesive securement.

With respect to the bands of adhesive of the type illustrated in FIG. 3,where the bands, in pairs 28, 33; 38, 40 and 47, 52 may not actually bein engagement with each other, and most especially with the bands thatare in engagement with each other, when the shingle layers are broughttogether, as for example in FIGS. 6, 7, and any of 8-13, it will beapparent that the different bands that either are or are not inengagement with each other may have the same adhesive properties, orthey could have different adhesive properties. For example, opposingbands that are to be in engagement with each other, such as are shown inFIGS. 6-13, could have one of the bands of one formation, and another ofa different formation. That is, one of the bands could be more tacky andthe other band with which it is to be in engagement could be stiffer.Either of the bands could be of a modified asphalt formulation, or ofdifferent compositions, as may render opposing bands that are to be inengagement with each other to more effectively adhere together.

While the particular embodiments of the shingles that are shown in thedrawings are shingles with slots separating the tabs, it will beapparent that, within the scope of this invention, this inventionapplies equally well to shingles having a greater or fewer number ofslots, as well as with shingles having no slots in the tab areas.Furthermore, the present invention applies to laminated shingles havinga rear layer that is either of approximately half height (covering therear surfaces of the tab portions of the shingles), and/or laminatedshingles that have the rear layers of full height (that is, covering therear surfaces of the tab portions of the shingles, as well as the rearsurfaces of the butt or headlap portions of the shingles. The presentinvention is therefore applicable to various other types of shingles,for example, as are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,205,734; 6,467,235;6,523,316 and 6,920,730, the complete disclosures of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that various modifications may bemade in the adhesive connections between adjacent shingles as they arebrought together, all within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A weather resistant shingle system including aplurality of field shingles applied to a roof, comprising: (a) aplurality of field shingles, each field shingle having a butt portionand a tab portion; (b) with the field shingles being laid up on a roofin courses, with a plurality of field shingles laid end-to-end in eachcourse, with the shingles in each course having top and bottom edges andleft and right ends with exposed bottom edges; (c) with field shinglesin a given course having their tab portions overlying butt portions offield shingles in a next-underlying course, and with field shingles insaid given course having their butt portions overlain by tab portions offield shingles in a next-overlying course so that tab portions of thefield shingles are weather-exposed; (d) with each field shinglecomprising a bitumen impregnated web having upper and lower surfaceswith granules adhesively secured on at least tab portions of the uppersurfaces which are weather-exposed and with small particles adhesivelysecured on the lower surfaces which are covered in the installedcondition on a roof; (e) with each adjacent underlying and overlyingfield shingles having at least two adhesive connections therebetween,spaced apart at different distances from a bottom edge of each saidoverlying field shingle, one said adhesive connection being carried onan upper surface of a butt portion of said underlying field shingle foradhesive connection to a lower surface of a tab portion of saidoverlying field shingle, and with another said adhesive connection beingcarried on a lower surface of a tab portion of said overlying fieldshingle for adhesive connection to an upper surface of a butt portion ofsaid underlying field shingle, and (f) with the at least two saidadhesive connections comprising means forming two separate moisturebarriers, at the locations of said adhesive connections, to moisturepenetrating between underlying and overlying field shingles in adjacentcourses, upwardly from a bottom edge an overlying field shingle.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said at least two adhesive connectionscomprise means forming two separate wind resistant barriers against windlifting an overlying field shingle from adjacent engagement with anext-underlying field shingle.
 3. The system of claim 1, including aplurality of starter shingles laid end-to-end on a roof, beneath alowermost course of field shingles, with the starter shingles andadjacent field shingles that overly the starter shingles having twoseparate adhesive connections spaced apart at different distances from abottom edge of a said overlying field shingle, and comprising meansforming two separate moisture barriers, at the location of said adhesiveconnection, against moisture penetrating between underlying startershingles and overlying field shingles in adjacent courses, upwardly froma bottom edge of the overlying field shingles.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein said at least two adhesive connections comprise means formingtwo separate wind resistance barriers against wind lifting an overlyingfield shingle from adjacent engagement with a next-underlying startershingle.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of adhesiveconnections include from three to six adhesive connections.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein additional adhesive connections betweenoverlying and adjacent underlying field shingles include adhesiveconnections comprised of adhesive zones on overlying and adjacentunderlying field shingles that are in at least partial contact with eachother.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein additional adhesive connectionsbetween overlying and adjacent underlying field shingles includeadhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones on overlying andadjacent underlying field shingles that are in full contact with eachother.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein additional adhesive connectionsbetween overlying and adjacent underlying field shingles includeadhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones on overlying andadjacent underlying field shingles that are in nested contact with eachother.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein additional adhesive connectionsbetween overlying and adjacent underlying field shingles includeadhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones on overlying andadjacent underlying field shingles that are in interlocked contact witheach other.
 10. The system of claim 3, wherein additional adhesiveconnections between starter shingles and next-overlying field shinglesinclude adhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones on overlyingand adjacent underlying starter shingles that are in at least partialcontact with each other.
 11. The system of claim 3, wherein additionaladhesive connections between starter shingles and next-overlying fieldshingles include adhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones onoverlying and adjacent underlying starter shingles that are in fullcontact with each other.
 12. The system of claim 3, wherein additionaladhesive connections between starter shingles and next-overlying fieldshingles include adhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones onoverlying and adjacent underlying starter shingles that are in nestedcontact with each other.
 13. The system of claim 3, wherein additionaladhesive connections between starter shingles and next-overlying fieldshingles include adhesive connections comprised of adhesive zones onoverlying and adjacent underlying starter shingles that are ininterlocked contact with each other.
 14. The system of claim 1, whereinat least one said adhesive connection of said plurality of adhesiveconnections is continuous across a said shingle between right and leftends.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said adhesiveconnection of said plurality of adhesive connections is discontinuousacross a said shingle between right and left ends.
 16. The system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one said adhesive connection is provided witha removable release strip covering said adhesive connection.
 17. Aweather resistant shingle system including a course of starter shinglesand at least one course field shingles applied to a roof, comprising:(a) each field shingle having a butt portion and a tab portion; (b) witha plurality of field shingles laid end-to-end in each course, with theshingles in said at least one course having top and bottom edges andleft and right ends with exposed bottom edges; (c) with field shinglesin said at least one course having their tab portions overlying startershingles in a next-underlying course; (d) with each field shingle andeach starter shingle comprising a bitumen impregnated web having upperand lower surfaces with granules adhesively secured on at least theupper surfaces and with small particles adhesively secured on the lowersurfaces; (e) with each underlying starter shingle and each overlyingfield shingle having at least two adhesive connections therebetween, onesaid adhesive connection being carried on an upper surface of saidunderlying starter shingle for adhesive connection to a lower surface ofa tab portion of said overlying field shingle, and with another saidadhesive connection being carried on a lower surface of said overlyingfield shingle for adhesive connection to an upper surface of saidunderlying starter shingle; (f) with the at least two said adhesiveconnections comprising means forming a moisture barrier, at thelocations of said adhesive connections, to moisture penetrating betweenunderlying and overlying field and starter shingles, upwardly from abottom edge an overlying field shingle; and (g) wherein the at least twoadhesive connections are comprised of adhesive zones on overlying fieldshingles and adjacent underlying starter shingles that are in at leastpartial contact with each other.
 18. The system of claim 17, whereinsaid adhesive connections comprise means forming a wind resistantbarrier against wind lifting an overlying field shingle from adjacentengagement with a next-underlying starter shingle.
 19. The system ofclaim 17, wherein said adhesive connections are comprised of adhesivezones on overlying field and adjacent underlying starter shingles thatare in full contact with each other.
 20. The system of claim 17, whereinsaid adhesive connections are comprised of adhesive zones on overlyingfield and adjacent underlying starter shingles that are in nestedcontact with each other.
 21. The system of claim 17, wherein saidadhesive connections are comprised of adhesive zones on overlying fieldand adjacent underlying starter shingles that are in interlocked contactwith each other.
 22. The system of claim 17, wherein said adhesiveconnections are continuous across a said starter shingle between itsright and left ends.
 23. The system of claim 17, wherein said adhesiveconnections are discontinuous across a said starter shingle between itsright and left ends.
 24. The system of claim 17, wherein at least onesaid adhesive connection is provided with a removable release stripcovering said adhesive connection.